Jungen Rumänen Eine Chance! Association
Founded in 2008, Jungen Rumänen eine Chance! is a charitable association aiming at promoting the integration of Romanian adolescents into society through the realization of joint cultural projects with other Romanian youngsters. The President of the association is Monique Gruber. Her deep attachment for Romania and for the social and cultural projects she initiated and developed in this country, while serving alongside her husband, German Ambassador to Romania 2003-2006, were the main reasons for creating this Association.
The Firebird project is the first community dance project to introduce the community dance concept in Romanian Society. More details can be found on: http://dance-with-us.blogspot.com
Monique Gruber
Biography
Born in a diplomat family in Luxemburg, Monique Gruber graduated in philology at the University of Sorbonne. She worked as a translator and taught French and English in France, the UK and USA before becoming involved in volunteer work.
Monique lived in numerous countries and experienced a variety of cultures, first as a child following her parents and then accompanying her husband Wilfried Gruber in his various posts as a German diplomat, among which the UK, Bolivia, Russia, Yugoslavia, Hungary and Romania.
She dedicated her free time to young people with disabilities or in difficult social or personal situations. She cared for Tchernobyl youngsters, taught autistic children in Yugoslavia, dealt with blind adolescents in Hungary and initiated several social and educational projects in Romania.
Monique´s belief in the positive impact of the community dance concept is so strong that she did not hesitate in introducing it in Romania even in these economically difficult times. She is convinced that the present project will allow young people from different social backgrounds to meet and experience living and creating together, getting to know each other in a spirit of mutual understanding and tolerance.
As young film producer Tedy Necula puts it: Each of us has a Firebird in himself, which he only needs to discover and give life to!